Tag Archive for 'brunello'

If the Folonari name is familiar to you, you’re not alone. The Folonaris are among Italy’s oldest and most prestigious Tuscan wine families with a winemaking history dating back to the late 1700s. In 1825 the family-owned business took the name “Fratelli Folonari,” and in 1912, Ambrogio Folonari’s grandfather, Italo Folonari, and his brother Francesco purchased the Ruffino company in Tuscany that was famous for its Chianti wine in straw-covered flasks called fiascos.

Prior to launching A. & G. Folonari Tenute, Ambrogio was the president of Ruffino, and an outspoken advocate for Italian wine quality who took Ruffino in a new and original direction. In the late 1960s, the company began focusing on high-quality wines and in 1971 purchased Nozzole, a famous estate located near Greve in the heart of Chianti Classico. In the 1980s, Ambrogio created Cabreo, a unique blend of the traditional Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon, along with La Pietra, a Chardonnay fermented and aged in oak. These wines were among the first in a new group of top wines now widely referred to as “Super Tuscans.”

In 2000, both Ambrogio and Giovanni left Ruffino to focus on small-lot, estate-grown wines, committing to reinvesting, and developing and expanding vineyard holdings to continue producing high-quality wines. Join us as we talk with Giovanni Folonari about his family’s history, the Tuscany region, and those fascinating Italian appellations.

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GrapeRadio is a wine talk show. Show topics cover issues such as the enjoyment of wine, wine news and industry trends - the hallmark of the show is interviews with world class guest (winemakers, vineyards owners, wine retail / wholesale leaders, restaurateurs and sommeliers). The scope of the show is international so expect to hear many guests from around the world.

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